Analysis of Mason & Dixon, Part 1 - Chapter 14: Dixon Attacked, The World's End, the Black Hole of Calcutta, Bonk, the Great Trek, Daughters of the End of the World, Dixon and Greet, Musings on Clocks
I'm trying to read through, the book by myself. And I am so disappointed that I finally overtook you. I'll be coming back every week though. They really did help when I was starting out to look for certain things, which the more I read of yours. The easier it became to notice the same things you did! Probably not that great, in a chapter about indoctrination.
What do you think, of the Calcutta hole also being about sexual gratification of the powerful falling just to rise again? That seems interesting to me, the differences between men who have it all, living the fall,- to feel better(appreciate) the magnitude of power distance? Also any thoughts about the fact Greet exposes her bosom? The intent behind it? Another plot?
I really did make a substack just to follow you. Thanks for the effort.
My greatest hope is that my essays provide readers the ability to read Pynchon without my help! I do love having people follow along the whole way, but I think it's infinitely more important to eventually do as you do and read on your own, develop those ideas, and then maybe come back to me for clarification or just for fun. So I'm really happy that's how it's going on your end and I'm also happy to hear you'll be coming back to check out my thoughts!
In regard to Calcutta, I think that's and excellent interpretation. I wouldn't find it hard to believe that many of the Elites have a sort of fantasy of their power being stripped away and then their inevitable 'righteous' reclamation of it. Almost like some sort of 'Holy War' day-dream in which they will rightfully become the victor.
On Greet, this one seems to me more like something she is now simply willing to do based on her indoctrination (which brings us back to the whole indoctrination theme). Given she has been told this is expected of her to further her family's and her class's plans, it has now become ingrained in her that this is how it is natural to act. An act of the corruptions of innocence in the same way that Bianca was corrupted in Gravity's Rainbow.
And again, thanks so much for following along. Hope to still see you on here for M&D and eventually when I get to Pynchon's other works!
I'm trying to read through, the book by myself. And I am so disappointed that I finally overtook you. I'll be coming back every week though. They really did help when I was starting out to look for certain things, which the more I read of yours. The easier it became to notice the same things you did! Probably not that great, in a chapter about indoctrination.
What do you think, of the Calcutta hole also being about sexual gratification of the powerful falling just to rise again? That seems interesting to me, the differences between men who have it all, living the fall,- to feel better(appreciate) the magnitude of power distance? Also any thoughts about the fact Greet exposes her bosom? The intent behind it? Another plot?
I really did make a substack just to follow you. Thanks for the effort.
My greatest hope is that my essays provide readers the ability to read Pynchon without my help! I do love having people follow along the whole way, but I think it's infinitely more important to eventually do as you do and read on your own, develop those ideas, and then maybe come back to me for clarification or just for fun. So I'm really happy that's how it's going on your end and I'm also happy to hear you'll be coming back to check out my thoughts!
In regard to Calcutta, I think that's and excellent interpretation. I wouldn't find it hard to believe that many of the Elites have a sort of fantasy of their power being stripped away and then their inevitable 'righteous' reclamation of it. Almost like some sort of 'Holy War' day-dream in which they will rightfully become the victor.
On Greet, this one seems to me more like something she is now simply willing to do based on her indoctrination (which brings us back to the whole indoctrination theme). Given she has been told this is expected of her to further her family's and her class's plans, it has now become ingrained in her that this is how it is natural to act. An act of the corruptions of innocence in the same way that Bianca was corrupted in Gravity's Rainbow.
And again, thanks so much for following along. Hope to still see you on here for M&D and eventually when I get to Pynchon's other works!